Matrix Games Forums

SIDE NOTE: With the update I just did for all the Mods, it really struck me just how different this Mod is now several years AFTER Dan and I started this game. Huge and I mean HUGE differences...

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock



Congratulations! (Mind you, after eight months, I imagine some of His Imperial Majesty's soldiers will be more than eager to depart.)

Eight months tied up in a back water that should have already been secured, not conquering more territory or strengthening the perimeter......

Appears to have been a very sound Allied strategy in spite of the losses.

Time will tell ... [;)]

There is no should have been involved here. The Allies are behind historical and down 150k troops! Sounds like an Allied victory to me!

Hip hip hurray!! [:D]

Nothing about an ahistorical scenario is supposed to be historical, so there is no "behind historical".

Just thought I would point that out. [;)]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: HansBolter




Eight months tied up in a back water that should have already been secured, not conquering more territory or strengthening the perimeter......

Appears to have been a very sound Allied strategy in spite of the losses.

Time will tell ... [;)]

There is no should have been involved here. The Allies are behind historical and down 150k troops! Sounds like an Allied victory to me!

Hip hip hurray!! [:D]

Nothing about an ahistorical scenario is supposed to be historical, so there is no "behind historical".

Just thought I would point that out. [;)]

Come on guys, I just thought this thread needed a 'devil's advocate' AFB to throw some water on the excessive JFB celebrating. [:D]

If I'm not appreciated I can go away. [&:]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: HansBolter




Eight months tied up in a back water that should have already been secured, not conquering more territory or strengthening the perimeter......

Appears to have been a very sound Allied strategy in spite of the losses.

Time will tell ... [;)]

There is no should have been involved here. The Allies are behind historical and down 150k troops! Sounds like an Allied victory to me!

Hip hip hurray!! [:D]

What obvert said AND...BACK WATER? I'd say a Sz-9 AF that could directly threaten nearly every oil production facility in the DEI is not BACK WATER.

Maybe I am crazy there...perhaps...NOT!

And you have a house rule which nerfs Strategic bombing.

It may have been part of your strategy, but while you had Dan committed to Sabang you couldhave been bashing him hard elsewhere.

I personally don't think John could have attacked somewhere else and scored as many permanent VP as he did in fighting at Sabang.

Perth is a place where you can sometimes destroy quite a few land combat units. Burma and southern India is another.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Come on guys, I just thought this thread needed a 'devil's advocate' AFB to throw some water on the excessive JFB celebrating. [:D]

If I'm not appreciated I can go away. [&:]

No Worries. I'm usually taking that role Hans, you just took this one for me!! [:D]

But I really do think the Allies will feel this one.

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin



Nothing about an ahistorical scenario is supposed to be historical, so there is no "behind historical".

Just thought I would point that out. [;)]

[/quote]

I have no objections to lots of responses to my post . . . but WHERE did you get that emoji?

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin



Nothing about an ahistorical scenario is supposed to be historical, so there is no "behind historical".

Just thought I would point that out. [;)]

I have no objections to lots of responses to my post . . . but WHERE did you get that emoji?
[/quote]
Cant remember, I found it years ago somewhere and saved it.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
I have no objections to lots of responses to my post . . . but WHERE did you get that emoji?

Who else is old enough to remember when they were called applets?

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
I have no objections to lots of responses to my post . . . but WHERE did you get that emoji?

Who else is old enough to remember when they were called applets?

I easily achieve that goal, and am old enough to have grown up using a rotary phone, programmed used IBM punch cards, and know how to tune a set of rabbit ear antennas using tin foil.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I personally don't think John could have attacked somewhere else and scored as many permanent VP as he did in fighting at Sabang.

Perth is a place where you can sometimes destroy quite a few land combat units. Burma and southern India is another.

The Allies do not need all of the LCU that they have at their disposal anyways. Sumatra was a big loss but the Japanese player need do one thing and one thing only to insure a chance at victory. That is he must kill some Allied carriers while he can. Otherwise the Allies are in prime shape come 1/44. It does not matter if you have 40 divisions or 140. Once command of the sea is given over they are of much less value. For this reason, I think targeting a large kill of LCU should be secondary to the primary purpose of killing American carriers. If the Allies don't lose their carriers in 42-43 then they have come out smelling like a rose in my opinion. I can compensate for the loss of six divisions but not for the loss of six carriers. My two cents from the Allied side.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I personally don't think John could have attacked somewhere else and scored as many permanent VP as he did in fighting at Sabang.

Perth is a place where you can sometimes destroy quite a few land combat units. Burma and southern India is another.

The Allies do not need all of the LCU that they have at their disposal anyways. Sumatra was a big loss but the Japanese player need do one thing and one thing only to insure a chance at victory. That is he must kill some Allied carriers while he can. Otherwise the Allies are in prime shape come 1/44. It does not matter if you have 40 divisions or 140. Once command of the sea is given over they are of much less value. For this reason, I think targeting a large kill of LCU should be secondary to the primary purpose of killing American carriers. If the Allies don't lose their carriers in 42-43 then they have come out smelling like a rose in my opinion. I can compensate for the loss of six divisions but not for the loss of six carriers. My two cents from the Allied side.

I will politely disagree. It is about vp. Unfortunately, most JFBs don't know how to fight the deathstar & get crushed.. Including me, but I think that is changing.

The only way to find out is to CRUSH THE ENEMY!

Dan and I got in FIVE turns today. Just sent the orders turn for AUGUST 1, 1943. Nothing much to report. He has moved some shipping back into the Marshalls and I have two small TF of DDs moving in for some action.

My PH SS might have gotten a sniff of a northward movement. We'll see if the warships encounter my picket line of AKs.

August 1, 1943

The month begins on a hopeful note as the Japanese knife fighters prove that they can still play with the best and most modern the Americans have to offer. Two groups of DDs make successful attacks in the Marshalls. Better yet, NONE are sunk or even seriously damaged.

Mili 4 DD vs a convoy guarded by USS Ward. Two AK sunk and Ward smacked. ALL four of my stupid DDs expel their TTs at the Ward.

Jaliut 5 DDs vs 5 US DDs. The Long Lances fly immediately and sink USS Strong while damaging another.

All nine DDs to concentrate at Kusaie and await Shimakaze when they'll take another stab at shipping.

August 3, 1943

The waters begin to turn decidedly HOSTILE in the Marshalls and Gilberts. IJN Musashi and Nagato with a large coterie of CLs and DDs enter the western Marshalls. The BB's are loaded for bombardment and plan to strike Mili. This is the apparent main base of the Allies loaded with fighters and shipping.

To the North--Kido Butai--sorties from Marcus and slowly (cruise speed) moves SE towards the theatre of operations.

To the South, the 8 CVEs of Japan finish refuelling at Rabaul and move towards Tulagi.

The Kaigun is about to make its presence felt...


At Singapore 3 Kongo-Class Battlecruisers finish their upgrades. The fourth--Kirishima--will be done in two days. These veteran monsters shall set course for the Aleutians...

Has he spotted anything moving in to harms way?

August 6, 1943

The big BAD bruisers move into enemy waters and decide to NOT make their bombardment run. Instead the Task Force decides to cruise in circles directly south of Jaliut. Why do they do this? I don't know. Perhaps it is an unscheduled test of the 3.9" AA Batteries. Makes no sense but this is what the game elects to do.

Dawn:

An escort of 18 Zeros fly overhead and everyone knows it will not be enough. The American raids begin with a Squadron of Avengers coming in. I panic fearing Torps but no. They carry bombs. Three more raids come in bringing a total of 36 DB of varying types. Musashi takes 6 500/1,000lb bombs and Nagato gets 5.

Afternoon:

Storms close in around the TF but the raids occur once more. This time Nagato gets smacked by 6 bombs and Musashi an amazing 12 more. YIKES!

Thankfully nothing else is hit.

The point of the obvious bombardment was to force the vulnerable Allied shipping away from their CAP. The plan works here. Raids by Japanese Betty and Jills account for a DE and 3 nice new AK. A Japanese I-Boat adds another AK to the total.

With a sense of great trepidation, I open the turn to look at Musashi and Nagato and am pleasantly happy (all things being equal) with the totals:

Nagato has 25 Sys, 18(6) Flot, and 24 Engine. Only the (6) Flot is major damage.
Musashi suffers 32 Sys, 18(6) Flot, and 20(8) Engine.

Looks like we need a bunch of brooms and a CRAPLOAD of Battleship Grey paint! While depressing damage for no result, it isn't bad. They shall retire to Truk and sit out for a month licking their wounds. The Admiral Commanding the TF has been sacked for absolute STUPIDITY!


Meanwhile...
Kido Butai moves slowly east near Wake. They are undetected...
The CVEs are near Tabitueau and also undetected...

Just out for a stroll. Don't mind the Flattops. Just sweet and innocent flightdecks. REALLY!

Here was my note to Dan this morning:

Further clarification on that Broom and Paint Order:
1. The brooms need to be the big whisk broom variety. We have a BUNCH of shell casings and shards laying around the decks and tower. Very dangerous for the crew to step on or trip over.
2. As to the paint, we think the US Navy paint is a little too blue. Please make sure it is more grey then blue. Much appreciated there.

The order has been put together and sent by Adm Kono’s Chief-of-Staff because the Admiral has been in seclusion considering committing Seppuku due to STUPIDLY deciding to circle his TF just south of Jaliut and do a ‘field test’ of our newly installed 3.9” AA guns. Quite gracious of him to do that just for your planes to get some operational testing of their own. Our bet is on him not surviving the night!